Bilateral anterior and lateral compartment syndromes in a patient with sickle cell trait. Case report and review of the literature.

Bilateral, exercise-induced compartment syndrome occurred in the legs of a 19-year-old black man with sickle trait. Necrosis in the anterior and lateral compartments was so severe that subtotal debridement was ultimately required. Bilateral tibial compartment syndrome is a rare condition. Its occurrence is usually associated with underlying systemic disorders. The authors suggest that sickle cell trait played a role in this patient's dramatic course.